Guide for index systems.



J. H. RAND, JR.

GUIDE FOR INDEX SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8, 1914.

1,140,480. Patented May 25, 1915.

' J9 in JQ Z B/ J AMES 6 B.

O V O MAJ/Z JAMES H; BAIjTD, JB., OF NORTH TONAWANDA, NEW YORK.

GUIDE FOR INDEX Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1915.

Application f led May 8, 1914. Serial No. 887,305.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES H. BAND, Jr., ,7

a citizen of the United States, and resident of North Tonawanda, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Guides for Index Systems, of which the following isa specification.

This. invention relates to index systems, and more particularly to the construction of the stiff dividers or guides used in indexsystems; and its object is to provide dividers or guides, preferably metal dividers or guides, so constructed as to efiect a substantial saving in weight and material, and to permit-lateral adjustments of the guide or character-bearing members of thedividers or guides, whereby the user is enabled to arrange the guide members according to any method or scheme of indexing best suited to the requirements of use for indexing his particular subject matter. These and other features will hereinafter be more specificallyflescribed and pointed out in the claims. 3

The invention is applicable to card index systems, filing systems for letters and other papers, and in fact any form of index system in which dividers or guides are employed in a series of indexed elements, whether such elements are cards, folders, or other forms of units. And while I have shown'in the drawings a card index system it is to be understood that this is for the purpose of illustration merely, and that the invention is applicable to index systems generally, irrespective of the particular character of the indexed elements.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate certain embodiments of the invention,-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a card index system containing the preferred form of dividers embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is -a front elevation, enlarged, of one of said dividers in place in a drawer or similar container; Fig. 3 is an end elevation'of said divider, showing the base member in sectiongFig. 4 is a front elevation-of a modifiedform of divider containing the invention; "and Fig. 5' is a Ver tical cross section of the dlvider shown I l Fig. 4.

v Referring to the drawings, A represents a drawer, box or other container, such as is commonly used for index systems of this character, and C represents a series of cards or other indexed elements, arranged one behind another in the drawer A in the usual way. I

The dividers, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, consist each of a base member B, consisting of a narrow steel bar, the length of which is substantially the same as the width of the indexed elements (hand a guide member B, of sheet metal, which extends upward from the base B and is materially narrower than the width of the indexed members. At the top of the guide members B is a tab B; which displays the index characters, or whatever form of inscription is appropriate to the particular system. The tab Bprojects a little above the top edges of the indexed elements C. The lower end of the guide member B. is folded over the base B, as shown at b, to form a guideway embracing the base 'B, and'slides lengthwise of the base, but engages it sufliciently snugly so as to make a frictional contact therewith, and to hold the guide member B against angular-movement on the base. Thus the guide member B is adjustable along the base to any desired position, and when adjusted will be held in adjusted position by frictional engagement with thebase, which is sufiiciently firm to prevent it from becoming accidentally displaced and ifany-lateral pressure is applied to the top of the guide member B the guideway 72 only tends to cramp and hold the guide member B the more firmly in its position on the base B.

In the form of the invention shown in .Figs. 4 and 5, the base B consists of a narrow sheet metal strip; and the upwardly extending guide member B, formed of sheet metal as before, is bent over at its lower end to form a lip 7), engaging the bottom edge of the base B, while another lip b is secured to the face of the member B, to.

engage the upper edge of the base B. Said lips b and 6 form the gurdewa'y to embrace and slide upon the baseB and are preferably made to fit the base Bflsufi ciently tightly to effect a frictional "engagement therewith. As further security against acci dental displacement, and to insure the uni? form lateral adjustment or spacing of he tures b, which are engaged by a corresponding rounded kno b or, boss I), the sheet metal guide mem er B" There is suliicient resiliency in the sheet metal of several guide members in the system, the case "B may be provided with a series of aperressed up from the parts to permit the guide member Bi to be slid lengthwise of the base B causing the knob b to spring out of the hole 6 which it engages, until'it comes opposite andfytsnaps into another hole 6 Said holes in conjunction with the knob form a series of yielding stops.

' The base B". maybe provided with a downwardly extending tongue 'B made 10' with' a hole, through which passes a lock rod R, such as is often usedin index systems ofthissort. With this invention not only is there a substantial saving of material oyer the usual nietal dividers or guides which are substantially coextensive with the indexed elements,

arrange. the guide tabsin vertical or diagonal rows, or in any position, on in any relation,'best suited to the subject matter of the index. i

I claim: H 1. In an index system, in combination with a series of indexed elements, a .divider comprising a base,'the length of which is substantially the same as the width of the in dexed elements. and the breadth of which is substantially less than the height of the in- 40 dexed elements, and a materially narrower guide member extending upward from said base beyond the tops of the said indexed ele-- ments. i

2. In an index system, in combination with a series of indexed elements, a divider comprising a base, the length of which is substantially the same as the width of the indexed elements and the breadth ofwhich is substantially less than the height of the indexed elements, and a materially narrower guide member extendingupward from said base beyond the tops of the said indexed elements and adjustable thereon. p 3. In an index system, in combination with 'a series of indexed elements, a divider comprising a base, the len h of which is substantially the'same as-t e widthof the indexed elements and the breadth of which -is'substantial'ly less :than the height of'the indexed elements, and a materially narrower guide member extending upward from said base beyond the tops of the said indexed elements and having at its lower end between the. indexed elements and "covered thereby a guideway embracing said base and adapted to slide'lengthwise thereof.

4. In an index system, in. combination with a series of indexed elements, a divider comprising a base, the length of which j is substantially the same as the width of the indexed elements and thebrettdth of-which is substantially less than the height of'the indexed elements, anda materially narrower ments and having. at its lower end between the indexed elements and covered thereb a guideway embracing said base and making close frictional engagement; therewith but adapted to slide lengthwise thereof.

' guide member exten mg upward fro m said base beyond the tops of the said indexed ele-f 76 5 In an index system, in combination with a series of indexed'elements, a d vider comprising a base formed of a narrowf bar,

the length of which is substantially the same as the width'of the indexed elements and the breadth of which .is substantially less than the hei ht of the indexed elements, and a materia ly narrower guide member formed of sheet material mounted at its lower end upon said bar between said indexed elements. and covered thereby and slidable lengthwise thereon. Q ,Y

6. In an index system, in combination with a series of indexed elements, a divider comprising a base foried of a narrow metal bar, the length of which is substantially the same as the width of the indexedelements,

- and a materially narrower guide member 1 formed of sheet metal moun d at itsv lower end upon said bar and slidable lengthwise thereon, said base having av series of stops by which the. guide member maybe yield-' inglyheld in any one of several predetermlned positions of adjustment onthe base.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this 6th day of May 1914.

I JAMES H. RAND, JR. -Witnesses ROBERT CUWSQIMAN, Cmmnns Wooonmzinr. 

